Khanye: Modern football doesn't accommodate Mbule

Junior Khanye says crowd favourite Sipho Mbule has failed to perform to expectations at Orlando Pirates this season.

This might spell trouble for the midfielder at the Buccaneers, as he is believed to be on a performance-based contract due to his previous disciplinary record.

READ | Sipho Mbule receives legendary backing

Khanye believes it is due to modern football that Khanye has made a mere 12 appearances in the league for the mighty Buccaneers, with no assists and no goals to his name.

"Sipho Mbule's season did not turn out the way I expected, he started his Orlando Pirates career very well in the MTN8, but then laziness crept in," Khanye tells KickOff.

"Out of nowhere Sipho started gaining weight very badly. He became too relaxed after being signed by Orlando Pirates. He is the best talent who didn't fulfill the wishes I had for him at Pirates.

"He started the season very well, but what I have noticed is that he was too lazy to work, and the so-called modern football doesn't accommodate people like him. Coaches are concerned about their jobs since football has become a business.

"Hugo Broos took him to the AFCON in Morocco because at the time he deserved to be there, even though he had not yet reached his peak, but at the time there was no midfielder you could compare to him.

"To be honest he has not yet reached the peak he was in at SuperSport United and at Sekhukhune United since joining Pirates. It was disappointing to see him gaining weight. It's not everyone who can play at these big teams, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Kaizer Chiefs, you compete against the best. Every six months, they visit the transfer market those teams. It's very easy to be replaced in those teams.

READ | HOT RUMOUR: Pirates close in on this PSL star

"I'm a big fan of Mbule but his work rate has let him down. And don't forget, in South Africa, if you once had a bad behavior and went on to serve your sentence for two or three years even, you can think of Phakamani Mahlambi, I'm counting in myself as well, the list goes on, they will always judge you based on your past. You arrive at training late by 10 minutes they are quick to remind you of something you did in 2013.

"But in short, the aeroplane to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has already left him behind Mbule to be honest. All coaches take fitness seriously. In the World Cup, you are going to play against the best, so all coaches want players who can play off the ball, players who can press as a team, or who can apply themselves as individuals. And Mbule, I don't think his fitness level is at that point. His performance dropped after the AFCON and he became overweight. Maybe that's the reason they gave him a one-year contract. They wanted to test him."